I’ve always been torn regarding Rock Band DLC songs. On one hand, I’m a poor college student -- so every time I say, “Well, I won’t be giving Harmonix any of my money this week,” my perpetually thin wallet thanks me. However, the flip side is that I so desperately want to pay for new songs. I bought the ten-dollar six-pack of Boston songs without hesitation, and I’m chomping at the bit for more content. But lately, it seems that Activision has been on the ball when it comes to DLC artists, whereas Harmonix seems to be slipping.
That’s going to continue next week, when Harmonix will bring us the three winners of MTV2’s “Dew Circuit Breakout” contest. The contest began in September, when over 4,000 bands signed up for a chance to hit the big time, and the public voted on twelve finalists (chosen by an MTV2 panel) to pick the top three very poorly named bands: The Material, The Myriad, and Them Terribles. The spoils of victory include MTV2 airtime as well as getting their songs in Rock Band: “Moving to Seattle” by The Material, The Myriad’s “A Clean Shot”, and “Bullets & Guns” from Them Terribles.
In addition to the three contest winners, the English band Maxïmo Park will also be making their Rock Band debut next week with “Girls Who Play Guitars”. Each of the four songs will be available at the low, low price of $0.99 (80 Microsoft Points), while the Circuit Breakout three-pack will sell for $2.99 (240 Microsoft Points). As usual, the tracks will be available on Xbox Live next Tuesday and on the PlayStation Store next Thursday. For more details, check out the press release after the jump.
I don’t mean to hate on something before I’ve heard it; of course, these three songs could all be awesome and a hell of a lot of fun to play in Rock Band (as for Maxïmo Park, I’ve never heard of them, so the same principle applies). Regardless, I worry that Activision is throwing its weight (read: cash money) around to get more desirable artists (in my opinion) in Guitar Hero games. Bringing lesser-known stuff to the masses is a noble pursuit, to be sure, and I like the idea of Rock Band being used as a new avenue of marketing music. But I’d much rather have some classic stuff from my favorite artists in the game. What about you?
MTV2 SELECTS NEXT ROCK BAND™ SINGLES
The Material, The Myriad and Them Terribles Land ‘Breakout’ Opportunity
Harmonix and MTV Games announced today the next addition to the Rock Band™ Music Store will be tracks from MTV2’s “Circuit Breakout” band contest winners The Material, The Myriad and Them Terribles, available on Tuesday, June 13. The three up-and-coming acts will join the ranks of some of the greatest rock bands including Metallica, Nine Inch Nails, Boston, The Grateful Dead, Queens of the Stone Age and more, as part of the Rock Band downloadable content catalog with more than 170 songs to date. Each track will be available for $.99 per track (80 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360®), or $2.99 (240 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for the three-pak.
Additionally, the northeastern England post-punk revival band Maxïmo Park will make their North American single debut with “Girls Who Play Guitars” as downloadable content for Rock Band. Having helped MTV launch Rock Band in Europe, they are even helping select the best Rock Band band abroad in a bid for a VIP stay in Ibiza. “Girls Who Play Guitars” will be available for $.99 (80 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) on Tuesday, June 13.
Release date:
Tuesday, June 13, 2008 (Xbox Live Marketplace)
Thursday, June 15, 2008 (PlayStation Store)
Tracks: MTV2 Pack
The Material - “Moving to Seattle”
The Myriad - “A Clean Shot”
Them Terribles - “Bullets & Guns”
Maxïmo Park - “Girls Who Play Guitars”*
*Track not included in MTV2 three-pak
(All tracks utilize original master recordings)
Price:
$.99 (80 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track
$2.99 (240 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for the MTV2 three-pak
Locations:
Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network
**Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change**
Contest:
3:48 PM on 06.06.2008
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Im glad Harmonix is supporting the unknown bands.
The last few weeks, meh, I haven't been feeling their picks.
RB Needs more classic rock (ie, good stuff like Rolling Stones, Eagles, Cream), prog rock (more Rush please? King Crimson), psychedelia (Sugarloaf, later Beatles), and metal of all kinds (MOAR METAL PLZ), less plastic punk/pop newshit.
I peeped youtube vids and only the one by The Myriad sounded like something I'd get into playing, relative to the others.
I'm guessing Activision may already have some of the more famous and classic bands locked up with exclusive agreements of some kind. And why wouldn't they? It's good business if it helps them stay number 1 in popularity.
Not that I like Acitivision, I actually despise them. But I can't argue with the logic there if that is truly what is going on. But I know you're a big Rock Band fan Nick, so that must be distressing to you. If so, then there's only one thing to do: Jump ship and drop your loyalty to a game that doesn't really care about you either.
Just saying. I'll take the game with the better music, thank you very much. Besides, Jimmy Buffet? WTF?
Even more upsetting - what happened to the songs we had been promised? Fuel? The entire Who's Next album? :(
But I agree with most in the "newer stuff" topic. It would be nice to get some of that newer metal in there.... As I was typing that last sentence I got a sick awesome idea. Probot's "Redwar" with Max Cavalera would be fucking insanely fun on the drums and guitar. Hahahhha just throwing that out there.
I love Maximo Park, and if its only a buck, why the hell not?
It really is exciting to see newer fresher bands coming to Rock Band slowly but surely.
The Cars? The euro DLC? Hell, even Buffet is worthy for the lulz. And The Material and Maximo Park are awesome, thanks.
Give me stuff like this over shitty Police/Ramones/Metallica/crap any day.
BTW, were you at Video Games Live back in April? I never bothered to ask, and I never even did a blog cause I got fired THE NEXT FUCKING DAY.
I love you.
"Oh no, they've released two better songs in the last two weeks on comparison to Rock Band, what shall we do?!?!?"
Let's calm down and not turn a situational element into something else. Rock Band has delivered, fairly solid, all around whereas Guitar Hero is just doing this so they can't be left in the dust holding their phallic implement of choice (read Guitar or Drumsticks) in their hands. It's certain that Rock Band isn't going to 1) roll over and die because GH is doing something for once and 2) stop putting out good music on a regular basis, even if it's not *Home Alone Face Slap* every week!
All I could think about when reading this article was about how it sounded like something a Drama Queen would type up.
@Kia: Well, the music thing is completely subjective. I guess Nick Chester and I would rather play older songs that we know like the backs of our hands. Give me Journey, AC/DC, the Eagles, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, U2, etc. over most (“most” — not “all”) modern music any day.
@lokid20: You’d be surprised how much stock the Guitar Hero brand name (which has been around since 2005, mind you) still carries. All I’m saying is, if Activision continues to get the (arguably) bigger bands, and Guitar Hero: World Tour has a solid setlist, Rock Band 2 is going to have some catching up to do.
Essentially, I may just be forced to buy the first music game that has Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, The Beatles, or the Eagles in it.
Though I will say that I do feel certain musical genres are underrepresented, such as hair metal and punk rock.
I got the invite, but could not attend.
Really, guys. Led. Zeppelin. Make it happen.
@Samit
Oh come on, don't be so narrow minded :P, spend your money on me and buy me something :).